Apparatus for manufacturing molded inlaid linoleum



May 6, 1941. J. l.. BERGER 2,241,051

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MOLDED INLAID LKINOLEUM Filed DSC. 16, 19354 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1941. J. l... BERGER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURINGMOLDED vINLAID LINOLEUM Filed Dec. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 6,1941- J. L. BERGER 2,241

'APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING' MOLDED INLID LINOLEUM Filed D60. 16, 19554y Sheets-Sheet 5 luf www

4M. @www May 6 1941- v i J. L. BERGER .2,241,051

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MOLDED INLAID LAOLEUM FiledDeo. 1G, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Fiyi *MYI //2 @a /af /07 Patented May 6, 1941 APPARATUSFOR. MANUFACTURING MOLDED INLAID LINOLEUM Johnv L. Berger, Columbia,Pa., assignor to Armstrong CorkCompany, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,739

24 Claims.

This application is in part a continuation of my copending application,Serial No. 617,165, filed June 14, 1932'.

This invention relates to. an apparatus for the manufacture of moldedinlaid linoleum or similar inlaid material formedl by stricklingcomminuted inlaying composition through a stencil opening.

The common practice in the linoleum industry in the manufacure of moldedinlaid linoleum is to, apply the comminuted linoleum mix throughstencils provided with appropriate openings defining pattern elements orportions thereof, the mix being; applied through the. stencil openingsonto a backing( by operators who. brush the mix through the stencilopenings with metal Scrapers. After each stenciling operationV thebackingwith the applied composition is moved forward to the nextstenciling stationv and the operation repeated until the entire surfacearea of the backing is covered` with loose, comminuted inlayingcomposition in which adjacent pattern elements lie in contiguousrelationship and are defined by an irregular line due to the granularynature of the mix. This loose mix is subsequently consol-idated` toYform a homogeneous; layer secured tothe backing or foundation. If thebinder employed so require, the material is cured by stoving in theusual manner.

Inmy copendingj application above referred to, I have described astrickling apparatus utilizing a plurality of yieldingV blades: to feedcomminuted inlaying composition to a stencil opening and to compress thesameV therein, and a method includingthe step of progressivelyv feedingand compressing inlaying composition within a stencil opening. The'present invention relates to the same general method and apparatus, butcontemplates certain improvements therein.

It is an object of the presen-t invention to provide an apparatus whichwill insure-that all-of the stencil openings, regardless of their sizeand shape, will be completely and uniformly filled and compacted.Pattern openings dening an area intowhich colo-r is to be applied,lwhich openings are relatively narrow in a direction transversely of thedirection of travel of the strickling mechanism, are difficult to,villl` since the composition has a tendency to bridge over the stencilopening and is removed by the scavenger blade, i

resulting in a web in which certain portions of the applied inlaid layerare not of the same density or thickness as the other portions of thepatm tern. In some instances.,.fai11l,11e. of the stricklers vtocompletely iill the stencil openingswill result in the backing beingleft exposed in those portions Where the composition has bridged thestencil opening, known as skippers In machine strickling, Where thepattern elements are formed by feeding comminuted inlaying compositionthrough stencil openings and thereafter compacting the compositiontherein, it has been found necessary to space the successive stencils,used in the formation of the various pattern elements, sequentially agreater distance away from the backing in order to compensate for thethickness of the stencil plate. This is occasioned by reason of the factthat the first color applied through a stencil is of a thicknessequivalent tothe distance between the upper face of the stencil and thesurface of the backing, since the stencil opening is completely filledand the color composition lies in a plane parallel with the top surfacethereof. In the application of inlaying composition through the secondstencil, the lower face of the stencil plate will lie in engagement withthe upper surface of the previously applied pattern elements and thecomposition applied through the second stencil will, therefore, lieabove the plane of the rst applied pattern elementa distance equivalentto the thickness of the stencil plate.

It Will be obvious that with a twelve color pattern, utilizing twelvestencils, for example, the thickness of the pattern elements applied bythe last stencils will, prior to final compression, be materiallygreater than that of the elements formed by the first of the series ofstencils. This results in non-uniform densities in the nished productand often causes the line of juncture between pattern elements to beunduly irregular since the inlaying composition of those elements whichlie above the plane of other of the elements will be moved laterallyupon the application oi' pressure and will irregularly overlie the otherelements due to distortion.

It is an object of my invention to overcome .this difficulty and ,toyprovide a mechanical stricklersand which may be readily adjusted todeposit different amounts of color. This is desirable since anystrickler unit may be utilized for any given stencil, and differentstencils, due to the different area of the openings therein, may requirediiferent amounts of inlaying composition for each stenciling operation.Y

My invention will be readily understood when considered in conjunctionwith the attached drawings which illustrate a present preferredembodiment of my invention and certain modifications thereof, and inwhichp Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved strickling mechanismmounted for operation` upon a stencil plate;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of my strickling mechanism;

Figure 3 is aseotional view taken on the line IIL- IU of Figure 2,showing. the depositing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a detailed view illustrating the' operation of thecomposition removing brush;

y Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line V-V of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI--VI of Figure 5;

. Figure '7 is a top plan view illustrating a modiiication of mystrickling mechanism;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the modification of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a side View showing the drive mechanism for the strickler ofFigures '7 and 8; and

Figure 10 is a detailed view showing the current pick-up mechanism forthe composition removing brush driving motor.

Referring to Figure 1, which illustrates a strickler representing apreferred embodiment of my invention, there is shown a plurality ofstrickling blades 2 secured to chains 3 mounted for travel in a closedpath about pairs of sprockets 4 and 5, secured to shafts 6 and Irespectively. The strickling blades 2 are mounted for passage over astencil plate 8 which lies transversely of a longitudinally extendinginlaying table generally indicated at 9. This table is of the generalconstruction commonly employed in the linoleum industry and comprisesessentially a bed I9 over which the strickler units are mountedtransversely thereof. A slat conveyor I I is provided to move a fabricbacking I2 longitudinally in intermittent steps under the stencil plate3 of each strickling unit. vSide railsv I3 extend longitudinallysubstantially the ventire length of the machine and are arranged forVertical motion. The stencils .and the strickling units are positionedon these rails and move coincidentally therewith; the rails beingelevated after each stenciling operation to permit, movement of thebacking therebeneath to present a freshportion thereof for theapplication of inlays thereto through appropriate stencil openings.

In the embodiment shown in Figures lhand 2, eight strickling blades 2a,2b, 20,211, 2e, 2f, 2g, and 2h lare provided in two series of four each;the first four blades beingspaced from the secr ond series on theconveyor chain as shown in Figure 1. Each blade is. secured to asupporting member I4 in the form of an angle iron and this angle iron isin turn secured toend plates I5. vStuds I6 (Figure 2), forming part ofthe chain 3, are fastened to the end plates I5.l An arcuate brace I'Iextending lbetween the en d plates I5 is found desirable to rigidify thestructure. The brace I7 may also serve as a bucket to convey excesscomposition back to a feed hopper, aS Will be more fully hereinafterdescribed.

Motion is imparted to the chain 3 by means of a geared head motor I8suitably mounted upon the main frame of the strickler. The motor I8drives shaft 'I which is keyed to the sprocket 5 and imparts acounterclockwise motion to the chain 3 and the stricklers 2 (Figure 1).

A measured amount of comminuted inlaying composition is deposited in thepath of the strickling blades 2 by means of a feeding device whichsupplies a uniform amount of color composition transversely of thestencil. This mechanism is l best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 andcomprises essentially a hopper I9 mounted upon the frame of thestrickler and adapted to hold a relatively large quantity of inlayingcomposition. The lower portion 2|] of the hopper is substantiallycircular in cross section as shown in Figure 3, and a shaft 2l extendstransversely thereof and is coaxial with the portion 29. A plurality ofvanes 22 are secured to the shaft 2I and define, with the portion 2B, aplurality of pockets 24 adapted to receive comminuted inlayingcomposition from the hopper I9. Rotation of the shaft 2l is controlledby movement of the chain 3 to provide an arrangement which will insurethat the comminuted inlaying composition discharged by the vanes 22through an open bottom 25 in the hopper I9 will be positioned on thestencil plate in the path of the striokling blades 2 at a predeterminedtime. A ratchet wheel 26 is keyed to shaft 2| and is engaged by a pawl2l pivoted about a pin 28 which passes through a pair of plates 29 and39 encasing both ratchet 26 and pawl21. A spring 3| urges pawl 2'! intoengagement with ratchet 26. The plates 29 and 30 are pinned together andare pivoted about the shaft 2|. Plate 29 is pinned to a rod 32 whichpasses through a drilled boss 33 secured to the side of the hopper I9. Acompression spring 34 encircles the rod 32 and lies between the boss 33and a limiting washer 35 positionedk on the rod 32. A roller 36 mountedupon a bracket 3i secured to the chain 3 engages a tongue 38 provided onthe plate 29 as the chain 3 moves in the direction of the arrow (Figure3). Upon engagement of the roller 36 with the tongue 38, clockwiserotation is .imparted to the plates 29 and 39 about the shaft 2I andpawl 21 engages ratchet 26 and imparts clockwise rotation thereto." Themovement imparted by each roller 36 is sufficient to rotate the feedingmechanism 1A; of a revolution to thus discharge the comminuted inlayingcomposition confined in a pocket 24 defined by the vanes 22. Rotation ofthe plates 29 compresses spring 34 and, after roller 36 and tongue 31disengage, spring 34 acts against the washer35 to return rod 32 andplate 29 to their original position; the paWl 21 riding over the ratchet26. A spring 39 is provided as a shock absorber to prevent excessivejarring upon return of the rod 32 and plates 29 and 30 to their normalposition. As many rollers 36 are provided asare found necessary torotate the feeding mechanism to discharge an amount of color sufficientto fill all of the stencil openings. The amount of color tov bedischarged will be determined by the area of the stencil openings andthe thickness of the material being made. It is essential, therefore,that means be provided for quickly varying the amount of colorcomposition suppliedA by the feeding mechanism. With the device shown inFigure 3 it is only Anecessary lto clamp on a` bracket 3`IA carrying itsroller 36 at` the desired location on the chain 3 and additional colorcomposition will be fed upon rotation of the chain.

It isl generally desirable to feed sufficient color composition to thestencil to insure that all of' the stencil openings will be completelyfilled` and in order to provide composition which may be compressed inthe openings.

As pointed out above, it has been found that it is difficult tocompletely fill the openings in a stencil if they are relatively narrowin a direction transversely of the -direction of travel of the stricklerblades 2. In order toovercome this difliculty,V I provide at least twoseries of strickling blades and supply color composition in the path oftravel of each series. Satisfactory results have been ob-tained whenutilizing four blades in each series; the blade 2a being spaced from thestencil 8 and positioned at an angle of 20 with respect thereto when instrickling position, and serving to spread the comrninuted inlayingcomposition in an even layerY over the stencil plate and through theopenings therein. Blade 2b,

which serves to further fill and compress the.

color composition in a stencil opening, isv preferably positioned at anangle of 15 with respect to the stencil and is not spaced materiallyfrom the surface of the plate. Blade 2c is positioned at an angle ofabout with respect to the stencil plate and serves to ll and compressinlaying composition in the stencil openings. A scavenger l blade 2d isprovided to remove excess color composition from the stencil plate andto remove any inlaying composition which lies above the plane of theopening in the stencil. It will be observed that in the embodimentsho-wn in Figure 1 two discharging rollers are provided in advance ofthe first series of 4blades and one discharging roller is provided inadvance of the second series of blades. The second series of blades isprovided primarily to assure that all the stencil openings will beadequately filled and properly compressed. The blade 2e may be set at anangle of 20 with respect to the surface of the stencil 8; blade 2f at15, blade 2g at 10 and blade 2h, serving as a scavenger blade to removeexcess composition in the same manner as blade 2b; at 90. In certainpatterns it may be found desirable to vary the angularity of the blades,particularly in the second series, in order to effect proper compressionof the material in the stencil openings.

The scavenger blades 2d and 2h may be spring urged in order that theyyieldingly engage the surface of the stencil plate 8 and also thearcuate surface 40 of the guard 4l to insure that all color compositionin excess of that required will be removed from a stencil and from theguard and re- I turned to the feed hopper I9. It will be noted that theblades 2d and 2h are mounted upon angle irons I4 which are connected tothe arcuate supports I1 by members 42, forming buckets which areVadapted to convey inlaying composition removed by the scavenger blades.The composition is deposited in the buckets upon rotation of thescavenger blades to a vertical position above the stencil. The colorcomposition accumulated in the bucket is discharged into the hopper I9as the buckets rotate about the sprockets' 4. `Composition is preventedfrom dropping onto the stencil by guard plate 43 which extends oversubstantially the entire strickling unit between the sprockets 4 and 5.A hinged scraper 44 is pro- From the foregoing it will be observed thata predetermined amount of comminuted inlaying composition is positionedin the path of; travel of thefirst series of strickling blades whichfill at least av portion of the stencil openings and compresses theinlaying composition therein; that additional composition is positionedin the path of travel of a second series 0f blades and that these bladesserve to completely ll the stencil openings and to compress the inlayingcomposition therein; that a scavenger is provided which removes allexcesscomposition from the surface of the stencil plate and removes anyexcess linoleum composition which may lie. in the stencil openings, butwhich, byv reason of expansion, extends above the plane of the, surfaceof the stencil plate.

Itis desirable to have each of the pattern elements. composed ofinlaying composition of substantially the same character and to have thesame volume per unit area applied over substantially the entire surfaceof the base fabric. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatby compressing the linoleum composition into the stencil openings andthen removing the excess which lies above the plane of the surface ofthe stencil plate that the thickness of the composition will bedetermined by the distance from the surface of the stencil engaged bythe strickler blades and the surface of the fabric and that upon eachsuccessive strickling operation the thickness of the applied compositionlayer will increase in an amount equivalent to the thickness of astencil plate. In order to overcome the objection it has been foundnecessary to decrease thev density of the inlaying compositionprogressively from the first inlaying step to the last. This hasentailed close control of the characteristics of the composition andhas, been found commercially unattractive. In Figure 4, the areas havebeen previously strickled and the backing I2 has been positioned withstencil 8 overlying the areas 45. The stencil 8 is provided withopenin-gs 46', 41 and 48 contiguous to the elements 45. It will be notedthat the inlaying composition occupying the area defined by the opening48 lies above the plane of the composition 45 in an amount equivalent tothe thickness of the stencil 8. (The thickness of the stencil is shownto exaggerated scale for clarity.) I have found that, by removing someof the composition from the stencil openings at each stencilingoperation, the difculties of unequal density heretofore encountered maybe obviated and a uniform product produced from inlaying composition ofthe same density. y

-I have found that a 'rotating brush is admirably suited to removecomposition which has been applied through and compressed in the stencilopenings. A brush and its associate mechanism, illustrating a preferredembodiment of my invention,v is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 andcomprises a cylindrical hair brush 4S secured to and mounted forvrotation with a shaft 50. The bristles on the brush are made ofrelatively' stiff hair and are set closely together to form asubstantially continuous yielding peripheral surface. Rotary motion isimparted to the brush by means of a motor 5i driving through sprockets52 and 53 by means of a chain 54. The sprocket 53 is secured to thebrush shaft 5'?! which is journaled in a bearing 55 formed in a casing56 which is secured to the motor 5I byy means of bolts 51' passingthrough lugsV on the casing andl into the motor housing. The

4brush unit: is mounted for movement in a closed path with the stricklermechanism and is polled and compressed the inlaying composition withinthe stencil openings. The brush and driving unit are mounted on thechains 3 by gudgeons 58 passing through rollers 59 of the chain 3. Theleft hand gudgeon 5S (Figure 5) is fitted into a boss 69 formed on thehousing of the motor 5|. A similar gudgeon 8| is provided and is fittedinto a boss 82 on the other side of the motor housing. A pipe 63 extendsparallel to the brush to the other side of the stricklerirame. A support84'is pinned to the pipe 83 and accommodates the gudgeon 6| which iskeyed therein. The pipe B3 is pinned to the right hand gudgeon 58, abovereferred to. A plate 65 is secured to the right hand gudgeon 58 andserves as a support for the bearing for the `shaft 58 of the brush 49.

It will be observed that the rollers 59 -of the chain `3 run Yon tracks88 formed in frame channel 6l and that movementof the rollers 58 awayfrom the track 95 which would result in movement of the strickler bladesand brush away from the stencil plate 8 is obviated by means of guidemembers 88 which are in the form o angle irons secured to the framemember 5T. By reference to Figure l, it will be noted that the members68 extend substantially the entire length of the machine to preventupward movement of the rollers 59 of the chain 3 during their travelacross the stencil plate 8.

'A mechanism for adjusting the position of th brush with respect to thestencil plate is shown in Figures 5 and 6 and comprises an arm 89 whichis provided with a drilled boss 'i8 encircling the gudgeon 58 and pinnedthereto by a pin A side plate l2 encircles the gudgeon 58 and isrevolvable thereabout. A pin 'i8 passes through slotted opening i4 inthe plate l2 and serves as a lsupport forthe brush mechanism, the pin'i3 passing through and forming a bearing for one of the rollers of thechain 3. The side plate 72 is provided 'with an integral boss 'l5through which passes a threaded stud 18 which is capable of rotationwithout translation within the boss A threaded block 'l1 liesintermediate the face plate T2 and the arm 89 and has integral studs 18and i8 extending therefrom. The stud 16 is threaded into the block ll.One stud 18 passes through an opening in the arm 69 and is held thereinby the nut 19. The other T8' passes through' a slotted opening 88 in theplate l2 and is provided with a clamp nut 8|. Adjustment of the brushwith respect to the stencil is eiected by turning the stud 'l5 withinthe block 11; nrst having loosened the clamp nut 8i. Rotation of thestud which is held against translation by the boss l5 on the plate 13will cause the arm 69 to rotate about the gudgeon 58 and since the arm69 is secured directly to the motor housing which is also rotatableabout the gudgeon 58 movement of the brush 49 toward and away from thestencil plate 8 may be conveniently effected inV any desired amount. l

It will be noted by reference to Figure 4 that the bristles of the brush49 enter the stencil opening and brush the comminuted compositiontherefrom. It will be observed that the inlaid composition withinstencil opening 46 has been reduced to the same level as the lowersurface of the stencil plate 8; that the inlaid composition in opening41 has been partially leveled and that the composition in opening 48 hasnot been operated upon by the brush and lies level with the uppersurface of the stencil 8. -The brush 49 carries the composition whichhas been removed sitioned for operation after the stricklers have fromthe stencil openings in a bank B away from the stencil plate. Thiscomposition is subsequently discharged into the feed hopper by thescavenger blades 2d and 2h and Scrapers 44.

In order to supply current to the motor 5| during movement of the brush49 over the stencil plate 8, I provide a trolley type pick-up systemAwhich is best illustrated in Figures 5 and 10. Figure 1 also shows-thepositioning of the trolleys with respect to the brush. In order toeliminate brushes in the motor and thus obviate considerable maintenanceexpense, the motor 5| may be of the three phase type with one leadgrounded to the machine. A wooden frame member 82 extends longitudinallyof the machine and is supported by an angle iron frame 83 which isfastened to the main frame of the strickler unit. The member '82 isrecessed on its lower surface and is provided with channels,receiving'conducting tracks 84V and 85 which are connected to a suitablesource of current for the motor 5|.

It is desirable to have the brush rotating at full speedat the time itcontacts with the stencil plate, and. since it is impracticable to carrythe conducting rails in an arc about the sprockets 4, I prefer toprovide two sets of pick-up trolleys, one of which lies in advance ofthe brush to provide current to the motor prior to the time the brushcomes into engagement with the stencil plate 8, (it should be borne inmind that the rate of travel of the brush over the stencil is relativelyhigh) and a second trolley positioned rearwardly of the brush to insurerotation thereof during movement over the entire area of the stencil.Each trolley is carried by the chain 3 and comprises a pair of collectorwheels 86 and 81 engageable respectively with the tracks 84 and 85. Thecollector wheel B6 is mounted on shaft 88, journaled in a frame member89 which is pivoted toa pin 98 forming part of the chain 3. The wheel 81is similarly mounted. Collector wheel 86 is spring urged into contactwith its track84 by means of a spring 9| which encircles a rod 92 xed toa bracket 93 secured to a pin 94 ofthe chain 3. Spring 9| urges a framemember 89 to pivot about the pin 98. The same construction is used forwheel 8l. The spring 9| is positioned between the bracket 93 and awasher 95 lying in engagement with the frame member 89and is normallyunder compression when the collector wheel is in engagement with thetrack. A washer 96 and a pin 9`|y are provided to limit movement of theframe member 89 when the contacting wheels leave their respectivetracks. The current picked up by the collector wheels 8B and 8'! is fedthrough a dual conductor 98 to the motor 5|.

Iprefer to have the machine fully automatic in operation and for thatpurpose a master switch is provided which is eiective for controllingthe motor I8 for each of the individual strickling units that may beemployed uponV the molding machine. Individual switches may be providedfor each unit of desired as shown in my copending patent applicationabove referred to. Even Y though each of the units be controlled by amaster switch for starting, I -prefer to have individual switches forstopping the units after they have finished their course of travel overthe stencil plate. For this purpose (Figure l) I provide a switch 99having an arm |08 which upon movement opens and closes the circuit formotor I8. A depending link- ||l| is pivoted to the arm |89 and carries ashoe |02 lying above the chain 3 and adapted for engagement with aroller |03 `mounted upon `the chain 3.` The .roller 03,.com

ing into .engagement with the ann |02 causes the switch v09 toAinterrupt the .supply of current .to

the, motor |8 .and the movementl nf the stricklers is. stopped. It willbe noted thatftheroller. .|03 has passed under the shoe |02 `after the.current hasbeenbroken; this being. due .to :thea-moe y mentum of themovingpparts. causing .thechains .3 `tomove about the sprockets afterthe .current supply for. the motor has .been broken. Due to theA weightof the stricklers 2f, ,2g and 2h, which are positioned about theYsprocket V5 when the strickler is in non-.operative position, they maytend to move. downwardly and .thus cause the brush to move back onto theYstencil plate. .In order vto obviate this,a ratchet wheel |04.isprovided on the shaft 6 andis .providedwith a pawl |04'` which preventsYclockwise .rotation of thesprocket` 4 (Figure l) .but permitscounter-clockwise rotation. .This insures that .the stricklers willremain in the position shown in Eigure l upon the completion of eachstricklingoperation.

According `to .my preferredmethod, .comminuted inlaying composition isfedfrom .thehopper I9 onto the stencil B inthe path of the rst series ofstricklers. These .stricklers at leastpartially ll the stencil openingsVand compact the material therein. VAdditional inlayingcomposition isfedfrom the hopperv .|.9 into the path of travel of the secondseries `of.stricklers, and these stricklers ,serve to completelyfill thestencil-open# ings and compress the .material therein. The brush 49passes over the stencil .and its bristles enter the stencil openings andbrush out ra-portion of. theinlaying composition therein. Theseoperations are carried on simultaneously ineach of the stencils utilizedto form a completedpattern; one .stencil being employed .generally foreach color. By this method` each of V`the-color compositions will be of.the same thickness from the base fabric to the top surface Yand thusuneven density in the Viinal product will be obviated and the problem ofcontrolling the density of the mix for each different ycoloriseIiminated.

Each strickler serves to layand .compress a given portionof theentirepattern andafter each stenciiing operation .the stencil .and stricklingmechanism are elevated away Vfrom the backing and the backing is movedby the conveyor along the bed and a fresh portion `is presented for thedeposition `of additional inlaying composition thereon. l

The compression effected by the strickler blades is not the finalcompression. l The backing with the applied inlays is moved tov asuitable press where the nal consolidation is effected. The material maybe subsequently cured if Arequired. y

In certain patterns it has been found satisfactory to utilize a single`series of blades 1together with the rotating brush. The number ofblades employed and the amount of color -composition` deposited in theirpath depends to la large extent upon the area to be filled -by eachindividual stencil andthe thickness of `thematerial vbeing made, as wellas the conguration of the pattern openings.

In place of the strickling blades, I may employ a strickling device ofthe type shown :in VFigures 7, 8 and 9, whichv comprises a pair ofhelicallyv wound wire stricklers |05 and |06, the helicies of thestricklers |05 and |05 being of opposite hand and the pitch beinggreater 4than 'the wire diameter. These stricklers `areirnounted ingudgeons |01, |08, |09 and H0 `and are `adapted to rotate in suitablebearings provided in the framemembers and ||2. These frame members arecarried by the chain 3, being secured thereto by pins H3, H4, ||5 and H6forming part -of the roller chain. Rotation is imparted to thestricklers |05 and |06 by a motor Ii'l. A sprocket H18 vis secured tothe armature shaft ofthe motor anddrives a chain H0 which encircles asprocket |20 revolvable on a stud iixed to Vthe frame member ||2. Thissprocket |20 has a double set of teeth and a chain |2| drives therefromand imparts motion to sprockets |22 and |23 secured to the gudgeons |08and |09 of 'the stricklers |05 and |55. A guard member |20 is positionedto the rear of the stricklers |05 and|06 (Figure 9) and has a top |25extendlng over the top of the stricklers and forms a travelling scoopfor inlaying composition. In the operation of this type of strickler,inlaying composition |26 is fed in the path of travel of stricklers |05`and Vllrand is carried with the scoop formed oft-he plates |24 and |25as shown in Figure 9. The strickler |05 is formed in a left hand helixWhile the strickler |06 is formed in a right hand helix. The stricklerunit moves in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 9 and thestricklers rotate in a clockwise direction (Figure 9). The `inlayingcomposition |25 as shown in Figure 9 becomes entrapped within the scoop|24|25 and the stricklers rotate therein and cause the color compositionto be forced into the openings inthe stencil plate 3; the right handhelix tending to convey the inlaying composition toward the right and beopposed by the left 4hand helix which tends to convey the color to theleft (Figure 7). This agitates the composition and causes it to passthrough the stencil openings onto the backing which is supportedtherebeneath.

If it is desired 4to compress the composition in the stencil openings,compressing strickler blades may be provided on the conveying chain andwill through the vstencil openings by the wire stricklers. .A revolvablebrush such as that disclosed in thepreferred embodiment may also beemployed to .remove color from the stencil openings. It .has been found,however, that the wire type 4stricklers v.form an inlaid product which,prior .to compression, very closely simulates hand stenciled material.In any event a scavenger blade should be provided to remove excess colorcomposition,if the ,guard |24 does not completely remove all excesscolor composition from the stencil plate.

Anadjusting device for the stricklers |05 and |06 maybe employed andthis may take the form of an adjusting device similar to that describedin connection with the rotating brush. Any adjusting mechanism whichpermits the distance between the surface of the stencil plate and thestricklers to be predetermined will be satisfactory, however.

While I 'have described certain specific preferred :embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood v.that theinvention is not limited tothe `form shown and described but may be otherwise embodied andpracticed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An inlaying machine for applying comminutedl inlaying compositionthrough a stencil opening comprising in combiation a plurality ofstrickler blades, a carrier for said blades, said blades beingpositionedon said carrier in a plurality of spaced series, meansfor'depositingcomminuted inlaying composition on the stencil for application by theiirst of said series and for depositing additional inlaying compositionfor application by another of said series, and means for Amoving thecarrier to cause said strickler blades to pass sequentially over thestencil opening. Y

2. An inlaying machine for applying comminuted inlaying compositionthrough a stencil opening comprising in combination a plurality ofyielding strickler blades mounted upon a carrier for travel in a closedpath, said blades being positioned on s-aid carrier in at least twospaced series, each series comprising at least a feeding and compressingblade; means for depositing communinuted inlaying composition upon thei' stencil for application by one of said series and stencil opening toremove a portion of the composition therein, means for rotating thebrush, and means for moving the brush over the stencil opening,

4. In aninlaying machine, the combination of a stencil having an openingtherein, means for lling the stencil opening with comminuted inlayingcomposition, means movable across the stencil opening and eiective forremoving substantially all inlaying composition from within the stencilopening above the plane of the lower surface of the stencil, and meansfor moving sai last named means acrosssaid stencil.

5.Y In an inlaying machine,` the combination of a stencil havingianopening therein, means for lling the stencil opening with comminutedinlaying composition and compressing the same therein, means movableacross the stencil openingand effective for removing substantially allinlaying composition from within the stencil opening above the plane ofthe lower surface of the stencil, and means for moving said last namedmeans across the stencil opening.

6. In an inlaying machine, the combination of a stencil Vhaving anopening therein, a rotatable brush movable across the stencil openingand engageable with the surface thereof, and means positioning the brushWith respect to the stencil so that the brushV will remove substantiallyall inlaying composition lying within the stencil opening above theplane of the lower surface of the stencil. l

7. In an inlaying machine, the combination of a plurality of stencilplates mounted for vertical reciprocation over a bed, means for'supporting a backing and for moving the same intermittently andsequentially under said stencil plates, each of said stencil platesbeing spaced from the surface of said badking substantially the samedistance, and means for removing inlaying composition lying within theopenings in said stencils below the plane of the upper surface of thestencil plates to reduce the comminuted inlaying compositionsequentially applied through thevarious stencils to a substantiallyuniform thickness prior tonal compression.

8. A strickler for applying comminuted inlaying composition through astencil opening comprising a plurality of yielding blades effective forfeeding comminuted inlaying composition into a stencil opening,rotatable means movable across the stencil and engageable withcomminuted inlaying composition therein and eiective for removing fromwithin the stencil opening below the plane of the upper surface of thestencil a portion of the comminuted inlaying composition applied by theblades, and means for imparting rotation to said removing means. y

9. The combination with an inlaying machine having a stencil providedwith an opening therein and means for filling andA compacting comminutedinlaying composition within the opening to a plane substantiallyparallel with the plane of the upper surface of a stencil plate, of abrush adapted to engage the stencil plate over substantially the entirewidth thereof and means for moving said brush over said stencil plate toremove a portion of the comminuted inlaying composition Within Vthestencil opening, and means for rotating said brush while said brush isin movementA over said stencil opening.

10. The combination with a stencil plate having an opening thereinadapted to receive comminuted inlaying composition, of a brush adaptedto enter the stencil opening, means for moving the brush over thestencil opening, a motor for rotating Ysaid brush, and means forenergizing said motor during the travel of said brush over said stencilopening.

11. In an inlaying machine, the combination of a stencil plate having anopening therein, means adapted to. enter the stencil opening below theplane of the upper surface of the stencil plate and eifective forremoving a substantial portion of the inlaying composition lying withinthe stencil opening above the plane of the lower surface of the stencilplate to reduce the same to' a substantially uniform thickness, andmechanism forA carrying the removing means across the stencil opening.

12. In an inlaying machine, the combination of a stencil having anopening therein, means engageable with the comminuted inlayingcomposition lying within the area defined by the stencil opening andbelow the plane of the upper surface of the stencil plate and effectivefor removing substantially all inlaying composition lying within thestencil opening above a predetermined plane, and mechanism for carryingthe removing means across thestencil opening.

13. In an inlaying machine, the combination of a stencil having anopening therein, a rotatable brush engageable with comminuted inlayingcomposition lying Vwithin the area defined by the stencil opening andbelow the plane of the upper surface ofthe stencil plate and effectivefor reducing the same to a substantially uniform depth therein, 'meansfor rotating said brush, Yand mechanism for carrying said brush acrossthe stencil opening.

14. An inlaying machine in accordance' with claim 4, in which the Vllingmeans comprises a plurality of strickler blades.

15. In an automatic strickler, thecombination of a stencilplate, apluralityof open, Vh'elically disposed wire stricklers' disposed abovethe stencil Withi their axes substantially parallel tothe plane ofthestencil, means for maintaining a body of comminuted'inlaying compositioniin the Working zone of the stricklers, means for rotating thestricklers, and means for effecting relative movement between thestencil and the stricklers along a direction substantially parallel tothe plane of the stencil.

16. In an automatic strickler, the combination of a stencil plate, aplurality of open, helically disposed wire stricklers disposed above thestencil with their axes substantially parallel to the plane of thestencil and their working surfaces in close proximity to the stencilplate, a traveling scoop for maintaining a body of comminuted nlayingcomposition in the working zone of the stricklers and between adjacentstricklers, means for rotating the stricklers to effect differentialmovement of the composition between the adjacent stricklers and fillingof an opening in said stencil plate, and means for moving thestric'klers over the stencil plate.

17. In an inlaying machine, a supporting bed, a series of stencil plateshaving openings therein disposed in spaced relationship longitudinallyof the bed and mounted for vertical reciprocation with respect thereto,means for moving a supporting web for inlaying compositionintermittently and sequentially under said stencil plates to receivecomminuted inlaying composition deposited through the openings in eachof the stencils, and means movable across one of said stencil plates insaid series for removing comminuted inlaying composition from Within anopening in said stencil plate below the plane of the upper surfacethereof to reduce the thickness of such composition to a thicknesscorresponding to the thickness of composition deposited through aprevious stencil in said series.

1,8. A strickler for applying comminuted inlaying composition through astencil opening comprising a pair of adjacent open helically disposedwire strickling members having their axes disposed substantiallyparallel to the plane of the face of said stencil and disposed above thestencil so that their peripheral working surfaces are in close proximityto the face of the stencil, a scoop for maintaining a body of commnutedinlaying composition between said strickling members in the working zonethereof, means for rotating said strickling members about their axes,and means for conveying said scoop and strickling members across thestencil.

19. A strickler in accordance with claim 18 in which one of saidstrickling members is of right hand formation and an adjacent stricklermemr ber is of left hand formation and in which rotation is imparted toboth in the same direction to effect differential movement of theinlaying com-position disposed therebetween.

20. In an inlaying machine, the combination of a stencil plate having anopening therein, a brush movable across the stencil opening andeffective for removing comminuted inlaying composition from within theopening below the plane of the upper surface of the stencil plate, andmeans for imparting rotation to said brush in the direction of travel ofsaid brush across the stencil opening.

21. In an inlaying machine, the combination of a stencil having anopening therein adapted to be lled with comminuted inlaying compositionto a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the upper surface ofthe stencil, means movable across the stencil opening and effective forremoving substantially all inlaying composition from within the stencilopening above the piane of the lower surface of the stencil, and meansfor moving said last named means across the stencil.

22. In an automatic strickler, the combination of a stencil plate havingan opening therein, a carrier, a plurality of open, helically disposedwire stricklers mounted on said carrier and disposed to sweep a pathclosely adjacent the stencil plate, means for maintaining a body ofcomminuted inlaying composition in the working zone of said stricklers,means mounted on said carrier and movable with said stricklers forrotating the striclklers to eiect differential movement in oppositedirections of composition disposed between the adjacent stricklers, andmeans for imparting motion to said carrier to convey the said stricklingmechanism across the stencil plate.

23. A strickler for applying comminuted, inlaying composition through astencil opening comprising a plurality of adjacent open, helicallydisposed, wire strickling members of generally cylindrical shape havingtheir axes disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the face ofthe stencil, said strickling members being disposed in spaced parallelrelationship with a. Working zone defined therebetween, means formaintaining a body of comminuted inlaying composition between thestrickling members in the said working zone, means for imparting arotary motion to said strickling members, and means for conveying saidstrickling members across the stencil.

24. A strickler in accordance with claim 23 in which both of theadjacent strickling members are rotated in the same direction and inwhich the direction of rotation of the stricklers is in a directionopposite to the direction of travel of the stricklers across the stencilopening.

JOI-IN L. BERGER.

